Krug decided to create a vintage for this particular year and named it “Vivacité Solaire” (Vivacious Radiance) to relate an unexpected story of a hot year that surprised Krug with fruit, freshness, balance, expressiveness, vivacity and finesse,
all at the same time.

KRUG iD
113015

This bottle spent at least 10 years in Krug's cellars, receiving its cork in winter 2013. Composed of a selection of the year's most characterful wines, Krug 2003 is the expression of the year 2003 revealed by Krug.

A year of such extremes as 2003 was unheard of in living memory. After an early bud break, two extreme frosts had a particularly significant impact on the Chardonnay vines. The summer that followed was a record-breaker, with an average temperature in August of 28.5°C - a staggering ten degrees above the norm.

The harvest began on 23rd August, making it the earliest since 1822. As anticipated, many of the grapes showed a high level of ripeness, but our careful observation of each plot also revealed an unexpected under-ripeness, the result of certain vines protecting themselves from the intense heat by stopping maturation. This extreme variation meant that the harvest continued in waves until early October, ensuring the grapes from each plot were gathered at the optimal moment.

When we came to taste the wines of the year, our respect for the individual character of every plot revealed the different ways in which the year's dramatic conditions had affected each of them. We were particularly surprised to discover a number of fresh, aromatic and balanced wines with vivacious fruit.

The composition of Krug 2003 includes an unusually high quantity of wines from black grapes, while Chardonnays were used with discretion due to their remarkable richness. Its draws its vivacity from the Meuniers of Sainte-Gemme, Villevenard and Courmas, with balance and freshness coming from the Pinot Noirs on the slopes of the Montagne de Reims. With intense expression and finesse, Krug 2003 tells the story of this challenging year.

The final composition of this bottle of Krug 2003 is 46% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay and 25% Meunier.

At the House of Krug every Vintage is crafted to be different, celebrating the distinct character of a particular year. It is as if Krug 2003 were the music of the year, captured by Krug.

Eric Lebel

Tasting notes

At first sight, a subtle yellow gold colour highlighting a reserved finesse.
On the nose: there are notes of citrus, plum, liquid honey and brioche.
On the palate: fresh summer fruits, surprising red grapefruit along with candied peel, roast chestnut and caramelized apple tart.

Krug 2003 can be enjoyed with dishes involving quince and citrus fruits, such as veal, lamb and quince tagine, fine fish and/or shellfish with citrus-based sauces, oysters au gratin. Recipes with spices, cinnamon, curry are good options and for dessert; a nicely prepared bread pudding with redcurrant coulis or citrus gratin.

ratings

"This offers fine detail and tectire on the palaten carrying an expressive range of poached quince and black currant fruit, coffe liqueur, garam masala, spun honey and raw almond. Fresh and focused, this is a boon from the hot 2003 vintage, showing a sense of finesse on the subtle finish." – AN

Wine Spectator 2015

Note: 94/100

Absolute perfection: impressive finesse of texture associated with a richness and a complexity of dazzling fruits, an endless persistence. Within Krug legend!